Processing alcohols



1arly of the higher alcohols-containing mixtures, orange colored mixture of higher alcohols boil- 65 it as does the boiling point, being more marked in normal temperature for a period of three days. 70

proved method for color removal from synproduct comprising 93% of the original alcohol. 75'

embodiments are described. tallic sodium was cut into small strips and added so alkali metal. At the expiration of the alkali stand in contact with the metallic sodium for 85 5 highly eflicaoious in color removal from the Example 3.--A dark orange colored fraction 90? 40 catalytic hydrogenation of oxide of carbon, and ter-white alcohols. 95

hols boiling above 165 0., however, I have found action f an alkali metal, such as metallic amples, i.e. distillation of the alcohols after de- 105 relatively small amounts are more economical formed. 1m

Patented Nov. 6, 1934 i V UNITED sTATEsPA'rg T @WHCE 1,979,303 7 PROCESSING ALCOHOLS John C. Woodhouse, Wilmington, Del., assignor to E; I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmmgton, DeL, a corporation of Delaware ;N0 Drawing. .Application December 27, 1932,

. Serial No. 648,983

"5 Claims. (01. 26 0 -156) This invention relates to the removal of color and I have found such smaller amounts to be from alcohols and more particularly to the resufiiciently efficacious. moval of color from the higher alcohols-contain Altho the proportions and methods utilized ing mixtures or fractions thereof, boiling above and the conditions followed may vary over a 5 methanol, obtainable by the catalytic hydrowide range, the followingexamples will serve to genation of oxide of carbonunder pressure. illustrate the. preferred procedure according to The existence of color is-frequently a commermy invention: cially disadvantageous characteristic of freshly Example 1 .Approximately 1.5 grams of solid prepared synthetic higher alcohols, and particumetallic sodium was added to 1000 c.c. of a light boiling above methanol, obtainable by the cataing in the range between -202" C. and oblytic hydrogenation of oxide of carbon under tained by the catalytic hydrogenation of oxide pressure. The intensity of color in the above of carbon under pressure; the material was a1- described higher alcohols increases somewhat lowed to stand in contact with the sodium at the higher boiling fractions, and is not remov- At the expiration of the treatment period the able by distillation. alcohol-containing mixture was decanted from It is an object of this invention to overcome any unreacted sodium and distilled at atmosthis disadvantage and to provide a new and impheric pressure to give an absolutely colorless thetically prepared higher alcohols. The remaining 7% not distilled comprised solid Other objects and advantages of this invensodium alcoholate which was formed by reaction tion will be apparent by reference to the followwith the metallic sodium.

ing specification wherein its details and preferred Example 2.Approximately 1.5 grams of me- According to the presentinvention higher alto 200 c.c. of an orange yellow colored fraction cohols generally, and higher synthetic alcohols of the mixture of higher alcohols obtained as as above described particularly, or fractions described in Example 1, but boiling in the range thereof, aresubjected to treatment with an of -240 C. The alcohols were allowed'to metal treatment the alcohol may be decanted three days at normal temperature to give, upon from unreacted metal and distilled and an absodistillation, after decantation from the unreacted lutely colorless product obtained. sodium, 94% of the original alcohol as an absoi Although I have found that caustic soda is lutely colorless product.

lower alcohols, synthetically prepared by the of the above described higher alcohols, boiling catalytic hydrogenation of oxide of carbon, howin the range of 165-275 C. was treated with ever, in the case of the higher synthetic alcohols, metallic sodium such as described in the previ- Sllch, for p as o e produced by the said ous examples to' give a colorless product of waboiling in a ela ive y higher Altho description has been made in the example, as above 165 C., the caustlc soda treatamples of treatment by metamc Sodium in ment is not Sufficient for succ?ssful 1 which the alcohols-mixture has been decanted moval' In the case of the hlghel synthetlc 3100' from unreacted sodium before distillation, it is that absolute color removal and a water-white often practlcany convement not to decant the l lcohol from the deco-lorizing mixture but to product is obtained by sub ecting the said higher 1 alcohol or higher alcohols contaimng mixture or distill dn ectly. It will be understood, therefore, fractions thereof as the case may be, to the that a treatment such as described in the exsodium, potassium, lithi rubidium, or cantation from the unreacted sodium, may be sium. The amount of alkali metal utilized ac- Substituted for by method in Which distillacording to my invention may vary over a wide tion is carried on directly in the presence of unrange but, altho large amounts may be used, reacted alkali metal and/or the alcoholates It will also be understood, notwithstanding the fact that in the examples allusion has been made specifically to the use of metallic sodium as a color removing agent, that the other alkali metals, for example, lithium, rubidium, caesium, and potassium, and condensing agents in general such as aluminum chloride, zinc chloride, and the like, are also commercially advantageously used as color removing agents according to the above described procedure.

It will be recognized that the color removing procedure above described is satisfactory for the tainable by the catalytic hydrogenation of oxide of carbon under pressure and boiling above 165 0. which comprises treating said materials with metallic sodium as a decolorizing agent.

2. A process for the removal of color from the colored higher alcohols-containing mixture 0btainable by the catalytic hydrogenation of oxide of carbon under pressure and boiling in the range of from about 165-275" C. which comprises treating said materials with alkali metal as a decolorizing agent.

3. A process for color removal from colored higher alcohols boiling above 165 C. and obtainable "by catalytic hydrogenation of oxide of carbon under pressure which comprises utilizing-as a decolorizing agent an alkali metal.

4. :A,.process for the removal of color from the colored high alcohols-containing mixture obtainable by the catalytic hydrogenation of oxide of carbon under pressure and boiling above 165 C. which comprises treating said materials with an alkali metal as a decolorizing agent.

5. A process for the removal of color from the colored higher alcohols-containing mixture obtainable by the catalytic hydrogenation of oxide of carbon under pressure and boiling in the range of from about 165-275 C. which comprises treating said materials with an alkali metal as a decolorizing agent.

JOHN C. WOODI-IOUSE. 

